State attorney general disagrees with federal ruling on Alabama immigration law

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange disagrees with an appeals court's decision to block two sections of Alabama's new immigration law. (The Birmingham News)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Attorney General Luther Strange said this afternoon that he disagrees with a court's decision blocking the implementation of parts of Alabama's sweeping immigration law and will continue to fight the matter in federal appeals court.

"We respectfully disagree with the Court of Appeals ruling temporarily enjoining additional sections of the act, but are pleased that the court has allowed the state to proceed enforcing some of the act's central provisions," Strange said in a prepared statement.

"We will continue to vigorously defend the law as we proceed through the appeals process," Strange said.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the parts of Alabama's immigration law that requires proof of lawful residency in the U.S. and the tracking of citizenship and immigration status information newly enrolled students. The court did not block other key provisions including status checks during traffic stops, contracts with illegal immigrants or government business transactions.

"This decision is the right choice for Alabama. No family should feel afraid to send their child to school, no teacher should be turned into an immigration officer, and it's flat-out absurd to require Alabamians to make sure they have proof of citizenship with them when they head out for a morning jog," Kennedy said in a prepared statement.